Drive-chain



(ModeL) W. PERKINS.

DRIVE CHAIN Patented M ENTOI? ATTO IVEY UNITED STATES PATENT. OFFICE.

WILLlS J. PERKINS, OF GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 359,029, dated March 8,1887.

Application filed November 18, 1884. Serial No. 148,239. (Model) To allwhom, it may concern.-

Be it known that l, WILLIS J. PERKINS, of Grand Rapids, in the county ofKent and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Drive-Chains; and I do hereby declare the following tobe a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as willenable others skilled in the art to which it appcrtains to make and usethe same.

My invention relates to an improvement in drive-chains.

Hitherto it has been customary to construct drive-chains consisting ofsingle and double links arranged alternately, the single links beingprovided with bosses or studs formed integral therewith, and the doublelinks provided with slots adapted to receive the studs and assist inlooking the links together, and also to construct chains having singleand double links arranged alternately and of a peculiar constructionadapted to co operate with pins in looking the whole together; but theconstruction of the links and locking devices has not been such as toadmit of their being advantageously made of wrought-iron and capable ofsustaining the same amount of strain at every point.

The object of my present invention is to provide a drive chain in whichthe links may be constructed substantially of the same form and weight,and to provide a pin for locking the links together which shall embodyin itself the complete locking devices proper.

\Vith these ends in view my invention consists in certain features ofconstruction and combinations of parts, as will be hereinafterdescribed, and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a view of the chain in sideelevation. Fig. 2 is a plan view, partly in section. Fig. 3 rep resentsthe links in position for coupling or uncoupling, and Fig. 4 representsthe pin in two positions. Fig. 5 is a modification.

A represents one of the links. It is made either with an open center,and of any desired size which the purpose to which it is to be putdemands,or with oblong holes in its ends. It

is not notched, slotted, or otherwise weakened by fitting, but consistssubstantially of an endless bar or rod in the form of an elongated loophaving semicircular ends or a double elongated loop, the single loopsbeing separated by a crossbar. Two of these links are placed side byside in contact with each other, and, for convenience, will be termedthe inside links, and the two next following links are separated by thewidth of the two inside links and lap past them on the outside a distance sufficient to admit the key or pin B.

The pin B consists of a cylindrical bar provided with elongated heads I)and having a V-shaped lug, 1), formed on the central portion ofthe barat right angles to the longest axis of the head, the lug beingconstructed about the thickness of the opening between the sides of alink and having a width equal to the combined width of the two insidelinks.

The links are united to form the chain in the following manner: Pins Bare inserted in two pairs ofinsidelinks by placing two pins with theirelongated heads I) in the same direction and slipping links over theircorresponding ends into the position of outside links and then turningeach of the pins onefourth ofa revolution, bringing the lugs 1/ towardone another and sliding the links into contact with each other at thecenter of the pins. The lugs I) now lying between the sides of thelinks, it is evident that the pins cannot be rotated relatively thereto.The inside links thus put together form the alternate links of thechain, and are connected by placing one set above its corresponding setthe distance of the length of an opening in one of the links apart andslipping the outside links over the heads of the pins 1), which headswill now have their longest axes in the same line. Vhen drawn outstraight, the outside links will lie at right angles to the longest axesof the heads I), and will be securely locked on the pins thereby. Theoutside links will also, when in position, prevent the inside links froma lateral displacement, and hence prevent the pinsb from turningrelatively to the outside links, excepting as they turn with the insidelinks.

The following are some of the important advantages obtained from myimproved construction:

The links, being substantially of the same form and size, may bemanufactured at a less expense than links of varied forms and sizes, andthe form in the present instance is such that the links may be made ofwrought-iron and forged in the simplest manner, while the pins may beconstructed by a drop-forge and a die.

Again, it is of great importance that a chain should have a uniformstrength throughout, so that when a given strength is required for aparticular purpose there may be no necessity for using a chain ofgreater weight than is absolutely necessary to do the work. The chainabove described is capable of being constructed of equal strengththroughout without any extra labor or expense, since the successivelinks of the chain consist oftwo similar links each, and by constructingthe pins 1) ofsuch size that the area of a cross-sectiou at the bearingshall equal twice the area of a cross-section of one of the links therecan be no weak point and no superfluous metal employed.

In Fig. 5 the chain is shown constructed of a single series of links. Inthis form the lug b is formed on one end of the pin B, and the elongatedheads made heavy to withstand the lateral strain.

My invention is also susceptible of other modifications withoutdeparting from its spirit and scope. For example, in the place of thetwo inside links a single link equivalent to the two in strength mightbe substituted, the lug b being modified to admit of the pin beinginserted therein, and the two inside links may be separated and held aconvenient distance apart by an enlarged portion of the pin or othermeans; or, instead of two single-bar links being employed to form alinksection, the number may be increased to three or more until aflexible chain of any desired width and strength is obtained, the pin inthis case being modified to admit of the adjustment of the links, thelug b, for example, being formed in close proximity to the head link, orthe body of the pin enlarged where it passes through the middle linksand lug 1) formed on the enlarged portion; or, again, the link in eachlink-section, except the outside links in each alternate link-section,may be connected rigidly together, forming double-bar, treble-bar, &c.,links; hence I do not wish to limit myself strictly to the constructionherein set forth; but,

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a drive-chain, the'combination, with a series of links, ofremovable pins connecting the links and provided at opposite ends withelongated heads, and at a point between said heads with a projectionadapted to engage one or more of the links for the purpose of preventing the pins from turning.

2. In a drive-chain, the combination, with aseries of links arranged inpairs, the inner faces of each alternate pair of links resting againstthe outer faces of the intermediate links, of removable pins havingelongated heads at opposite ends, and provided between said heads with aprojection adapted to engage one or more of said links for the purposeof preventing the pin from turning, substantially as set forth.

3. In a drive-chain, the combination, with a series of links arranged inpairs, the inner faces of each alternate pair of links resting againstthe outer faces of the inner or intermediate links, of the removablepins, each having elongated heads at opposite ends and a projectionadapted to engage the inner links and prevent the pins from turning,substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereofIhavesigned thisspecificationin the presence of twosubscribing Witnesses.

\VILLIS J. PERKINS.

Vitnesses:

EDWARD TAGGAR'I, FRED N. STEvENs.

